GT Academy 8th Grade Pre-AP English



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Overall: Use a video editing program to create an interesting 3 - 4 minute video experience which demonstrates ALL the items bulleted below in the Required Aspects section. Credits are not counted in the time limit restrictions.

Requirements

• Video must be 3 – 4 minutes long.

• Video must send a message to others from a deep, meaningful synthesis of understanding developed from your study of your group’s research and comparable aspects of America’s development. There is no restriction as to what message you send as long as you are able to justify how it is inspired from the knowledge you obtained through your study of the areas listed above.

• Video must be engaging, original, and have a powerful effect on the audience.

• Viewers must be able to see how the message came from your study your group’s research and comparable aspects of America’s development, but you don’t need to document the conflicts. Your backing research shows your understanding. The video only needs the information necessary to send the message. You will never make the time limit if you try to give all the little details.

• Video must have credits at the end according to the Video Credits Instructions.

Be sure to check the RUBRIC for grading the Final Video.

Final Videos Due: 4/17/15

Table of Contents

I. General Expectations for Compiling the Video

II. Guidelines for Using Narration and On-Camera Student Appearances

III. Finding Images and/or Video for Your Video

IV. Using PowerPoint to Create Higher Quality Images/Text Slides

V. Finding Music for Your Video

VI. Editing Video Segments

VII. Advanced Tool for Editing Your Audio

VIII. Creating Animation for Your Video

IX. Video Conversion Tools

X. Top 10 Recommendations for Planning Your Video

I. General Expectations for Compiling the Video (Back to Table of Contents)

a) It is expected that you will compile/complete your videos at school using the version of Windows Movie Maker Live on the district computers and laptops. If Movie Maker is not on the computer, check with your teacher first and then, when given permission, click here to download it.

Movie Maker is not a backwards compatible program. This means that if you start your video in an earlier version like the schools and then open it in a newer version, you will NEVER be able to open it in the older version again. Sometimes versions are updated and look exactly the same, so you have to be careful. It is suggested that if you need to work at home, you find pictures/media/music at home and compile the video at school to avoid compatibility problems.

If you need help with Windows Movie Maker Live, check out the following tutorials:

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b) You may use a different video program to create your video, but if you choose to do so, please BEWARE that:

➢ Mr. Drayton and Mr. Bernhart will be less familiar with that program to assist you.

➢ If the program is not free and only one student has it, you will be putting your group’s faith in that computer and that person. If the computer crashes and no one has access to the same program, you will have to start over. If the person doesn’t come through or can’t bring the computer anymore, you will have to start over or trust them to finish it while you get images and write text.

➢ Many free programs, especially Web-Based ones, have download/export limits which may not be compatible with this assignment. You are responsible for checking this before using an alternate program.

➢ Two other renowned Free Video Editing Programs out there are VSDC and Lightworks. These are non-linear video editors and take more time to learn how to operate. They are already on the QVMS Laptops. If you do have advanced video editing knowledge and are willing to read instructions and help menus, they have more powerful editing capability than Windows Movie Maker.

a. VSDC Tutorials

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b. Lightworks Tutorials

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You should also be sure to create ONE specific folder for saving ALL your pictures and video segments that you will be importing into any video program as you compile your video. This is essential for keeping things organized because Movie Maker (and any other video programs) remembers where your files are. If you accidentally save files on the computer’s hard drive or switch a folder name, Movie Maker will not recognize that file and a RED “X” will appear the next time you open it up. ALL video programs work this way. If you are using a flash drive, it is best to save all the files within one folder and copy it to the C: Drive to work off of during the class period and copy it back to the flash drive at the end and delete it off the C: Drive, repeating the process every day.

II. Guidelines for Using Narration and On-Camera Student Appearances (Back to Table of Contents)

Members of your group may narrate the video and you may appear on screen, but no reenactments, acting, or scene depiction of any of the conflicts is allowed. You can be on camera speaking for this one. That is it.

If you do decide to be on camera, consider your appearance and the message you want to send. Dress for your message and think about your backdrops, posture, and positioning to get the effect you want to achieve.

If you have other ideas about what you want to do in the video or would like to break the rule above, please ask the teacher for permission. We want creativity, but do this for your protection.

III. Finding Images and/or Video for Your Video (Back to Table of Contents)

You can find pictures and video at Discovery Education Streaming (FBISD databases), Gale Databases, ABC-Clio and many other FBISD and Fort Bend County Library databases you used for research, and/or using an internet search engine (Google, Yahoo, etc.). If you use the general internet, you need to make sure you read the copyright notice for pictures/videos found using an internet search engine. For Discovery Education Streaming, you will need to use the generic student login below.

Username: FB+(Student ID w/o first zero) Password: Gaggle Email before the @ symbol

All items used must be cited in the credits according to the Video Credit Instructions at the end of the video.

When using video clips, you should adhere to the following guidelines:

1) Clips should be short and specific. Otherwise, you are basically using someone else’s video to call your own and not making your own original artistic work.

2) Not more than 60 seconds or 10% of your total video length, whichever is greater.

3) You can mute the volume on video clips if it is not necessary and overdub your own voice or text.

IV. Using PowerPoint to Create Higher Quality Images/Text Slides

(Back to Table of Contents)

Instead of using the video program to create text slides, you can create more advanced slides with many more options for text placement using MS PowerPoint. You do this by creating slides like you would for a PowerPoint and when saving, choose the Save As option. Choose the .gif or the .jpeg option. If you made more than one slide, it will ask you if you want to save each slide as a different file. It is best to choose yes, so you have more control when importing the pictures into the video. After saving the pictures, import them like you would any other image and insert them where you want them in the video timeline.

V. Finding Music for Your Video (Back to Table of Contents)

You can find music at the following sites:

1) - This site is excellent for finding music that matches the mood you want for your video. By clicking Advanced Search, you can search by Style, Feel, or Tempo to get the best music for the moment.

2) - This site is good for looking for particular genres of music and you can search by style categories like Blues, Country, Indie, Jazz, Rock, Hip Hop, etc.

The links above are recommendations and you can use other sites offering free open source music. Please be aware that as with much on the internet, not everything on this site will be appropriate for everyone or for your videos. If you hear something inappropriate or that makes you feel uncomfortable, please exit the song immediately. Since this is Open Source, nearly all songs will be available for use in your video, but you must click on the Creative Common License link if there is one to see the specific approved uses for the material. If you do not want to expose yourself to the possibility of hearing something inappropriate, you are more than welcome to bring music in from home via email or Gaggle, but you must respect copyright rules. These rules are:

1) All items used must be cited according to the Video Credit Instructions. This includes free music online under the Creative Common License.

2) For copyrighted music (not Creative Common License), you cannot use more than 30 seconds of a song or 10%, whichever is greater.

3) You cannot loop the same part of a song over and over to get around the 30 second or 10% requirement. Plus it sounds really awkward most of the time.

VI. Editing Video Segments (Back to Table of Contents)

Windows Movie Maker or whichever program you use to make your video will be your video editing tool. All video editing tools allow you to:

1) record narration synched with your video

2) create text slides or text overlaying pictures (can also use PowerPoint 2007 or higher for more advanced features combining text and pictures)

3) add transitions and effects

4) mute audio on imported video segments

5) cut video into pieces

6) take snapshots of video frames (still photos)

7) edit audio (limited power; best to use outside audio editor like Audacity)

Note: Most anything you want to do with your video can be done. If you don’t know, just ask how. Students often set their own limitations because they just assume they can’t do something and never find out how.

VII. Advanced Tool for Editing Your Audio (Back to Table of Contents)

Audacity is downloaded on all FBISD computers for Audio Editing. If it is not on your computer, please talk to the teacher first and get permission to click here to download it. After downloading, you should also download the LADSPA Plugins, LAME MP3 Exporter, and FFMPEG.

For a free tool, Audacity has exceptional power if you learn how to use it. You can layer multiple audio tracks to mix different songs together smoothly to soundtrack your video. The fade in/fade out capabilities are far superior to the choppy options in Video Editing programs. It is highly recommended that you edit your audio in Audacity to make the smoothest video, especially if you are recording narration or recording with a video camera. Things you will want to do in Audacity are:

1) Blend song transitions using Crossfade options.

2) Normalize your final audio ALL to -1dB or 0dB to maintain a steady volume throughout the video.

3) Use a Compressor on any narration you do.

Note: If you need help using these features, ask your teacher for help. We will show you.

VIII. Creating Animation for Your Video (Back to Table of Contents)

You may consider use of animation in your video. There are sites online that will allow you to create animated segments. It can add interest if used thoughtfully and responsibly. Four sites Go Animate and Voki and ToonDoo and Pixton allow you to do this and use the product for non-commercial purposes such as education. You may also use other animation sites you know of that permit non-commercial use of their products. Since you are all under 18, you need a parent’s permission to sign up for these sites if they require a name.

PowerPoint 2010 and newer will also allow you to create animation and save a video file to import into MovieMaker or any other video program. To use this, create animated slides in PowerPoint 2010 and then follow the Instructions for Saving Your PowerPoint 2010 or Higher File as a Video.

Microsoft Paint is also an option for creating animation. You can draw in the program and import into PowerPoint 2010 to create animation and images.

If relevant, you can also use Screencast Animation. There are many sites for this, but a recommended one is Screencast-O-Matic. There are 2 options for using the software. You should use the option that does NOT require a download. If you need assistance, please ask your teacher.

IX. Video Conversion Tools (Back to Table of Contents)

Since there are many different video formats (.mov, .wmv, .mpeg, .avi, .rm, .qt, .mp4, etc.), sometimes you will need to convert videos before importing them into the video editing program. The tools below will allow you to convert between formats.

a) Free Encoding

b) Zamzar

c) Convert.Files

d) Conversion

X. Top 10 Recommendations for Planning Your Video

(Back to Table of Contents)

1. Make a Video Plan first which outlines what you want for each part of your video (intro, ending, how you will be mixing the ideas to build the middle).

2. Choose the font and background colors you want to use together, so there is a pattern throughout and it doesn’t look like it was done in pieces.

3. Decide whether you want to do voice-overs (narrate parts), so you can keep it consistent. Be sure to practice these parts so they come across well.

4. Make sure that you are copying and pasting information for the credits, so that you don’t end up having to go find everything at the end. You must cite ALL pictures, videos, and music used.

5. Make sure you have a clearly identified message to center your video on and that the pictures/video clips don’t seem like a random conglomeration of violence, but rather each visual or group of visuals has a specific meaning that furthers your main message.

6. Remember, you can get pictures, video, music, and work on the plan at home, but it is recommended that the video actually be composed and edited in class.

7. Don’t focus much on the music at the beginning. You need to develop the video to know how much music you need for various segments, where you want to transition, and the mood you desire.

8. It is essential that you use your RESEARCH — both already existing and NEW research done as needed to develop a thoughtful, meaningful message supported by facts. A visually stunning video with good music will be a low grade with misinformation and weak/superficial connections to reality!

9. All information in your video should help to explain the similarity. You need only enough background information on your conflict to inform people what it is. Don’t just dump all your research in the video and hope for the best.

10. Be careful about text slides. Make sure there is plenty of time for an average/slower reader to read the slides. Have everyone in your group read your slides. Check by reading aloud at a standard, relaxed pace like an author would read from his/her book and I am reading this slide. Your info doesn’t count in the video if we don’t have time to read it.

11. Think about what you would need to be interested and impacted by your message. Don't make a video you wouldn't want to watch.

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